Teach Kids To Be A Planetpal This Earth Hour

Let An Hour Without Power Last A Lifetime!

Watch Planetpals Earth Hour Video:

Here, at Planetpals, we believe that Earth Hour should be just the beginning. We want you to think about the energy you use every day after that.

When Is Earth Hour?

Earth Hour is held on the last Saturday of March each year, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time.  This year it is being held worldwide on March 27.

What Is Earth Hour?

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change.

Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global conservation movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating. The numbers have increased every year! Soon the whole world will participate.

Global landmarks such as the, Sydney Harbour Bridge, The CN Tower in Toronto, The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome’s Colosseum, all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.

What Can You And Your Kids Do?

We suggest you involve the kids in Earth Hour by attending an event or doing it at home.  Plan it ahead of time.  Make it an annual event that you all look forward to. We suggest No DSS, leapfrogs or Ipods...just good old fashioned entertainment. Let them learn a little about what life was like without energy.

• Hold an annual "Earth Hour Party"!
• If it's warm enough cook out
• Plan a Cold dinner and get everyone involved in planning and making it
• Try playing board games by lantern and radio
• Do an Earth craft
• Teach them about energy, how we use it, discuss how to use it more wisely
• Have them research life before "lights" and talk about what they learned
• Discuss modern inventions effected by energy and talk about the inventors
• Talk about how energy changed society
• Talk about the beautiful things on Earth so that they can appreciate what they do have.  Then give them the tools to learn to care for it!
• For ideas, activities and fun facts go to Planetpals Earthday Pages.

Above all, show them Planetpals Hour Without Power Video (below), so that they will get the message!

© JAG Planetpals.com

Date And Time of Full Moons for 2023

Did you know?  Most of the time, the full moon isn't perfectly full. 

We always see the same side of the moon, but part of it is in shadow, due to the moon's rotation. Only when the moon, Earth and the sun are perfectly aligned is the moon 100% full, and that alignment produces a lunar eclipse.  

And sometimes — once in a blue moon — the moon is full twice in a month (or four times in a season, depending on which definition you prefer). 

You can learn more about moon phases at Planetpals.com.

Well, January 6,  we are looking at a full moon in the astrological sign of Cancer, and January moon is commonly called a WOLF Moon. There are many other ancient moon names for every month.

When are the FULL MOONS in 2023?

This is when full moons will occur in 2023, according to NASA:

Date	Name	U.S. Eastern Time	GMT
January 6	Wolf Moon	6:08 p.m.	23:48
February 6	Snow Moon	1:29 p.m.	18:29
March 7	Worm Moon	7:40 a.m.	12:40
April 6	Pink Moon	12:34 a.m.	04:34
May 5	Flower Moon	1:34 p.m.	17:34
June 3	Strawberry Moon	11:42 p.m.	03:42 on June 4
July 3	Buck Moon	7:39 a.m.	11:39
August 1	Sturgeon Moon	2:31 p.m.	18:31
August 30	Blue Moon	9:35 p.m.	01:35 Aug. 31
September 29	Harvest Moon	5:57 a.m.	09:57
October 28	Hunter's Moon	4:24 p.m.	20:24
November 27	Beaver Moon	4:16 a.m.	09:16
December 26	Cold Moon	10:33 p.m.	03:33 GMT on Dec. 27

What To Do With Outdated Calendars

Eco Friendly ideas for re-purposing old calendars

It's the end of the end of the year and that means that your calendar is now outdated! Unless, of course, you are using a perpetual calendar, it's time to let go.

If you are like many people, you probably hate to just toss your beloved calendar in the trash.  Perhaps it was given to you by someone special or on a topic you really adore. Yes, you enjoyed it for a whole year and now there must be something you can do with it!

Whether your calendar was on vintage posters, 50's cars, or travel to a favorite destination,  there are actually a few things you can do to save it from the trash heap: 

• Frame it. Save your favorite images as wall art
• Make a collage or decoupage using many images 
• Make recycle ART.  Try rolled frames, mirror frames, beads, more
• Make a book or journal
• Make a picture morgue (library)
• Use it for crafts such as bookmarks, gift tags, wrap and note cards
• Save for scrapbooking projects
• Use it as a birthday calendar to record friends and families birthdays
• Donate it to freecycle, your book swap or your town swap shop (one man's trash is another's treasure)
• If you are a teacher or program leader, collect them from parents, they are perfect for class projects
• Use it another year . These years have the same calendars as 2023 (the selected year is highlighted): 1933, 1939, 1950, 1961, 1967, 1978, 1989, 1995, 2006, 2017, 2023, 2034, 2045 and 2051 Check any year: Visit this site and find out!
• Put it in the recycle bin if all else fails.  Recycle

NOTE: There used to be an organization called "Calendars for Kids Recycle Project" but as far as I can see, it no longer exists.  If you know of another, let me know!  I am happy to pass it on.

And remember, if you get too many calendars as gifts  this year, pass them on to a friend or give them to a thrift.  Someone will be happy to use a new one! 

Speaking of calendars, Have a GREEN  Year! 

The World Is Singing A Greener Tune With Planetpals:

Planetpals  Licenses to Storypod for an audio book Storyteller.

View on Storypod

Join PLANETPALS, Earthman and his friends, as they teach kids about the planet, everyone and everything on it! Meet each inspiring and fun character, and learn about their world and what you can do to make your world better.

Planetpals is a unique approach to important issues. The Earth Times wrote about Planetpals: "Planetpals has a nice balance of fact and fantasy presented in a way that dares you not to have fun while learning why being a "pal " to the environment which is so important."

PLANETPALS “Be A Friend To Earth” is an uplifting, playful book and collection of poems put to music that children will love to hear,  as well as sing. Earth friendly and upbeat tunes that kids will find delightful and motivational. Included in the recording are an exclusive selection of songs for each of the adorable nine Planetpals and then some. 

Complete with Storypod's signature audio production including music, sound effects, narration, and interactive trivia your little ones are sure to love! It also includes an interactive trivia session at the end of the book to develop your child's listening skills and cognition!

Finally, it’s based on PLANETPALS popular children's website and blog, visited by nearly every country, used by teachers, parents and children for it's ideas and content and promoted by the best educational and environmental portals.

Plantpals activities and educational lessons are available on educational sources including activities from Teachers Pay Teachers and Amped Up Learning 

Characters and Rhymes created by Judith Gorgone, artist, writer and educator, who has been delighting children for decades with toys, educational activities and other children's products.  Her talent as an artist, combined with her love and understanding of children, make Planetpals outstanding and educational.

Planetpals educational portals have been used by families, teachers and kids and can be found on the award winning Planetpals.com and Planetpalsblog.com. 

Planetpals characters are available for licensing on a variety of product categories! PLANETPALS: THERE’S NO WAY IN THE WORLD YOU WANT TO MISS OUT! 

For licensing information contact Judith Gorgone / PLANETPALS™ 

www.planetpals.org

Make Traveling A Gas....Saver!

How can you save gas during everyday travel? Many ways!

 

With gas at a premium cost this year and the planet in need of less emissions here are some simple useful tips to help you conserve and cut those costs:

Saving gas is a gas!

•       Travel together in groups to your thanksgiving destination
•       Plan your trip: Use the most efficient route
•       Have a local dinner or drop in for neighbors
•       When preparing for your event combine errands, and trips.
•       Carpool errands with a friend and you will both save on gas and have fun!
•       Don't use drive up windows...park and drive in 
•       Service your car it will keep it at peak performance
•       Go lightly on the gas pedal
•       Don't pump your brakes
•       Don't idle for long periods of time
•       Empty the car and trunk of extra items
•       Put items in the trunk instead of your roof
•       Drive 55 mph instead of 65 (you save 15%!)
•       Don't use your air conditioning
•       Use your 5th gear whenever possible
•       Keep your tires properly inflated
•       Buy a Fuel Saver of some kind
•       Use the lowest octane gas
•       Don't rev your engine
•       Of course walk, bike, bus when you can and save gas altogether!